JOIN USTransport corporations from across the country have acknowledged the need to change, if they have to offer an alternative to private vehicles and solution to traffic woes.
International experts and heads of corporations deliberated on the future of urban transport at the second conference of International Association of Public Transport here on Monday.
“Urbanisation and economic growth will result in increased vehicle ownership. Unbridled vehicle ownership can only lead to traffic crisis,” said Lewis M Fulton, director, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California.
Noting that the number of private vehicles in India was less than that in China, he added, “India can avoid a crisis by making a leapfrog with robust public transport systems. The country needs one million buses to cater to the people.”
Transport expert and co-founder of Mapunity/Lithium said there is a need to build a knowledge-sharing platform where all transport corporations can exchange solutions.
“Our governments approach the problems with preconceived notions. Their solutions stop at infrastructure. Some organisations like the BMTC have been implementing IT-based solutions despite lack of government support. But these solutions have remained inaccessible to other organisations in the country. A pan-India platform will save the effort and time needed for trial and error in each organisation,” he said.
Many speakers stressed that an efficient system will have to adopt IT solutions and shift to electric vehicles. BMTC MD Ekroop Caur said the corporation was already taking steps to cut emissions.